Voting is a Right Although Voters are Often Wrong

The 2014 midterms offered proof that the majority of American voters are uninformed, choose not to be, simply voting along party lines. All to infrequently does the most qualified candidate win. All too frequently winners of elections succeed because of television advertisements which attack the opposing candidate with misleading statements. They often sink low enough to make disparaging remarks which condemn them personally. Unless voters remove themselves from the ‘boob tube’ and research the issues, they have no idea which issues are supported by the candidates. Voting is a cherished right, but the outcome of elections are often the wrong choice.

There were many poor choices across the country in yesterday’s election. The governor’s race in Florida was won by Republican Rick Scott. He is bad for Florida, but raised his hand in victory over Democrat Charlie Crist. The only reason he was elected was the ‘R’ next to him name. In his first term he was responsible for the loss of 12,000 jobs, lowering money for education, and denying federal aid for a high speed rail system and increased Medicaid for the people of his state. As the CEO of a major hospital chain, Scott’s company was convicted of the largest case of Medicare fraud in the nation. A fine of 1.7 billion dollars was assessed. Charlie Crist received high praise when he was in the Governor’s Mansion previously. His only crime; he switched parties and was running as a Democrat.

In Kentucky, Mitch McConnell was a terrible choice, and there is no need to state the reasons, they are obvious. But the most horrendous choice was Joni Ernst in Iowa. She supports issues which are of interest only to herself. Ernst wants to pass a bill giving ‘personhood’ to a fetus from the moment of conception, disallowing abortion for all women. She is against any form of health care, any increase in the minimum wage, and does not believe that women should receive equal pay for equal work. But she had that ‘R’ next to her name.

Kansas reelected Republican Senator Pat Roberts. Roberts has a reputation for being one of the worst members of Congress, and his campaign committee could not point to one accomplishment for the people of Kansas. He was facing Independent Greg Orman who had many ideas which would positively affect the lives of the people of the state, but he lost. Roberts had an ‘R’ next to his name.

Here in Nevada the results of one race is complete proof that some voters should not vote. The race for Attorney General was between Democrat Ross Miller, and Republican Adam Laxalt. Miller was Secretary of State. Laxalt worked in a law firm and was previously in the military as a prosecutor. Laxalt had never tried a single case in the state of Nevada, and lacked qualifications necessary for obtaining the state’s top legal position. Mr. Miller was extremely qualified with years of experience. Laxalt had that ‘R’ next to his name.

In Washington State, a deceased incumbent was reelected. State Representative Roger Freeman died just before Election Day. Local station KVAL interviewed voters leaving the polls. Those that voted for Freeman said they did not know he had died, or had simply voted along party lines. He was a Democrat.

Voting along party lines is a rabid disease for Republicans in Congress. Rarely does a single member of the GOP cross the aisle to vote with their Democratic Constituents. This is why America is failing. As predicted by our forefathers political parties have destroyed our government, and, as they also foresaw, Democracy is failing.

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James Turnage is currently a writer and editor for The Public Slate, a subsidiary of the Guardian Liberty Voice. He is also a novelist who is in the process of publishing his fourth effort.
His responsibilities include Editing, reporting , managing.

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